Jim Ratcliffe, co-owner of Manchester United, declined to commit to Erik ten Hag’s future at Old Trafford, acknowledging that the club is not performing up to expectations under the embattled manager.
When speaking before United’s crucial Premier League match against Aston Villa on Sunday, Ratcliffe missed the opportunity to dispel rumours of Ten Hag’s potential dismissal. His sombre evaluation of the club’s situation did little to boost Ten Hag’s prospects of retaining his position.
Ratcliffe expressed his fondness for the manager but insisted that the final decision does not rest with him.
Ten Hag’s team is currently in 13th place after winning only two of its first six league matches. The team’s recent 3-0 home loss to Tottenham and a 3-3 draw at Porto in the Europa League have intensified the pressure on Ten Hag.
Ratcliffe and his advisors previously conducted an internal review into Ten Hag’s turbulent two-year tenure, during which they reportedly considered Thomas Tuchel for the managerial role.
However, Ratcliffe’s stance on Ten Hag has become less definitive, indicating that any decision involving the former Ajax boss will be collaborative with United’s new sporting director and chief executive.
He stressed that the current management team has only been in place since July and will need to carefully evaluate the situation to make informed decisions. He reiterated the club’s clear objective of restoring Manchester United to its former glory.